When a woman is pregnant, many festivities and celebrations are performed in every culture and society to celebrate motherhood and to welcome the new member of the family. One such celebration is the Indian baby shower or the Godh Bharai Ceremony, which is unique and special to the Indian community and celebrates the mother-to-be and bless her for the upcoming postpartum journey.
It is a time for family and friends to gather, share their blessings, have a fun gala time, and pamper the mother-to-be with her favorite food, music, games, things she loves the most, and other family rituals. Let us explore the significance of Godh Bharai, and check out 12 ideas for hosting a unique, fun, and extravagant baby shower ceremony.
What is Baby Shower / Godh Bharai?
The Godh Bharai, or the Indian baby shower, is an Indian tradition that celebrates the pregnant woman and her upcoming journey of motherhood. <filling the lap> It’s a time for relatives and friends to come together, express their love and blessings, and celebrate the arrival of a new baby. During the baby shower ceremony, the expectant mother is dressed up in traditional Indian attire and is offered blessings by gifting food, gold and silver ornaments, flowers, and other unique gifts.
Different communities have different rituals for the Godh bharai rasam, and it signifies to “fill the lap” of the mom-to-be with various goodies such as gifts, fruits, flowers, bangles, etc that symbolizes that her lap is full of blessings and good wishes for her and her unborn baby, before she goes for childbirth.
Baby Shower Ceremony (Godh Bharai) - A Woman's Journey to Motherhood
The baby shower ceremony is a fun-filled event for a woman and a special time spent with her loved ones and family. Women spend a lot of time planning the event, choosing their Godh bharai look, and anticipating the arrival of their baby. Let us understand the significance of this ceremony, read on.
Significance of Godh Bharai Rasam
The Godh Bharai rasam or ritual is a very special event in the life of a pregnant woman as she anticipates the birth of her child with the support of her family and friends. It has a lot of significance in the Indian tradition as it is a time of celebration and pampering for the expectant mother, as well as a time for relatives and friends to express their wishes and shower blessings on the new addition to the family.
The Indian baby shower ceremony also carries a religious significance, as pooja is performed, and prayers are offered for the health and prosperity of the expectant mother and the newborn.
When is Godh Bharai held?
Godh Bharai is generally held in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy, but the time and day may vary depending on regional customs and family traditions. According to some traditions, this is also the time when the mother and the baby are most vulnerable to any evil eye, or complications such as excessive bleeding, and health issues; thus, it is an auspicious time to carry out the ritual.
Who performs the baby shower ceremony?
The baby shower ceremony is usually and traditionally hosted by the to-be mother’s family, and the mother-to-be is the star of the show or the center of attention as the event is to celebrate her journey into motherhood. The ceremony involves dressing up the mother-to-be in traditional Indian clothes, adorning her with flowers, and showering her with gifts and blessings. Some traditions also only include women guests. Along with the to-be mother's family, this function can be hosted by anyone, like friends, in-laws, etc who loves you the most.
12 Unique Baby Shower Ideas & Themes to Celebrate the Special Day
Want to throw an unforgettable themed baby shower for the mom-to-be in a chic, stylish, and personalized way? Check out these 12 unique baby shower ideas to celebrate the Godh Bharai ceremony.
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Floral-Themed Godh Bharai Ceremony
With this theme, you can decorate the venue with flowers, from garlands to centrepieces, and include the new mommy's favourite flowers. The godh bharai look for the mother-to-be can be a floral-print saree or lehenga, and guests can be given flower-themed party favours or natural-themed souvenirs.
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Pop The Balloon- Balloon-Themed Godh Bharai Ceremony
Decorating the venue with balloons, from balloon arches to balloon centerpieces, can be a great party idea, and you can use the mom-to-be or Baby shower-themed balloons for the event. With personalised balloons and messages on the balloons, you can take the theme to a whole new quirky level.
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Minimalist Baby Shower Theme
Many mothers nowadays live minimalist lives and want their baby showers to reflect this. So, in this theme, you can keep the decor simple and elegant, with a focus on natural elements like plants, wood, and greenery. You can also keep a sustainable fashion theme and showcase our country's rich heritage.
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Cowboy-Themed Baby Shower
For the more contemporary mom, a cowboy-themed baby shower will be a quirky, fun, and engaging ceremony where you can plan an eventful day filled with games and cowboy-themed decor, from hay bales to cowboy hats. The countryside theme can make the event really unique and remembered for ages to come.
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Royal Rajasthani-Themed Godh Bharai Ceremony
This theme can bring a lot of bright colours. Sumptuous food, dance, music, and performances at the event really make your Godh Bharai rasam stand out. You can decorate the venue with royal Rajasthani-themed decor, from elephant statues to Rajasthani textiles, and provide the guests with a unique cultural experience.
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Little Prince Or Princess: Fairytale
There is a little girl in every woman, and she loves a princess fairytale experience, no matter the age. Thus, the theme can really help tap into the unique nostalgic experience by decorating the venue with fairytale-themed decor, from castles, horses, carousels, fairy godmothers, angels, and unicorns. You can also keep the fairytale theme for dressing up and bring a royal element to the party.
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Ocean Of Love: Blue-Themed Godh Bharai Celebration
The ocean theme can be customized beautifully by incorporating different elements of the ocean, such as waves, seashells, fishes, corals, mermaids, or beaches. This gives the mom-to-be and guests a unique experience. The colours can also be used for dresses and accessories.
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Garden Party-Themed Godh Bharai Celebration
You can decorate the event with garden elements such as creepers, trees, branches, flowers, and arrangements that provide a very calming and nature-inspired theme. You can also give plants as souvenirs here to guests and include a green or garden-inspired buffet.
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Bollywood Themed Godh Bharai Celebration
This is one of the most popular and fun themes for Godh Bharai. A DJ playing Bollywood songs, Bollywood-themed dresses, and, of course, performances can transform the evening into a fun-filled and unforgettable experience for both the mom-to-be and the guests.
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All White Baby Shower Theme
White colour has a very calming effect and is considered regal, thus, an all-white baby shower theme can incorporate all the white elements in decorations such as flowers, mirrors, background, etc. The mother-to-be can also wear a white outfit, and you can include white roses or balloons to amp up the space.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower Theme
A star-themed baby shower calls for decorating the venue with star-themed decor, from star-shaped balloons to star-shaped confetti. This sparkly event is sure to be a hit as it incorporates the best of the twinkling sky and other sky elements. This theme will also lead to amazing photographs being taken of the event, which can turn out to be very unique.
Paris is a dream destination for all girls, and when you choose a Paris theme for your Godh Bharai, it is bound to be a hit amongst the guests. You can include all the important elements, such as the Eiffel Tower, decorations, lights, and backdrops as per the theme, and keep a photo booth to click a million pictures.
Things To Take Care Of While Planning Godh Bharai Ceremony
When planning the perfect Godh Bharai function, keep in mind that this function is to celebrate the new mom-to-be, so we need to take care that she is comfortable and safe, and it is an enjoyable experience for her.
Comfortable Maternity Clothing
For the new mom-to-be, comfort and safety is of high importance. Make sure that she is well rested through the night before and is wearing comfortable clothes for the event. The Mom Store has a huge collection of pregnancy clothing that is suitable for any occasion and can make a comfortable choice for the event. The mother-to-be should be dressed in traditional Indian clothes, or as per the event's theme, adorned with flowers, and given a makeover to look her best.
Safety
When planning the event at the venue, make sure that the place is clean, does not have any loose electrical outlets and wires on the floor, and is safe. You can also ensure that the place is well-lit and ventilated so there is no suffocation or other problems.
Keep A Check On the Volume
If you have music playing at the event, make sure that it is under manageable limits, so it doesn’t lead to any health issues or headaches for the mom-to-be. You can plan some music performances for the guests to enjoy, such as traditional Indian music, Bollywood songs, or live bands.
Plan fun activities
You can plan some interactive games for the guests to participate in, such as baby-themed quizzes, baby photo contests, or baby shower bingo.
Closure Note
The Godh Bharai is traditionally relevant in many cultures and is celebrated to wish the mom good luck on her journey into motherhood. The mom-to-be should feel cherished, loved, happy, and, most importantly, have fun during the event. If you want to make her feel special, you should check out The Mom Store for amazing maternity clothing, accessories, and pregnancy essentials.
FAQs on Baby Shower Ideas
1. Which month is best for Godh Bharai?
Godh Bharai is usually held in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy and celebrates the mum-to-be's journey into motherhood.
2. What kind of look is best to carry on Godh Bharai?
It is always good to carry a traditional look for Godh Bharai, but you can also go with the theme you have planned for the ceremony, as it is to mainly celebrate the mom-to-be.
3. What are some popular gifts to give at a Godh Bharai ceremony?
- You can check out some great gifting options for the Goad Bharai ceremony which include-
- Baby clothes and blankets
- Diapers and baby wipes
- Baby toys and books
- Baby care products such as lotion, shampoo, and powder
- Maternity clothes for the mother
- Jewellery for the mother